Anyone else feel like WDW vacations are getting more stressful to plan, not less?

[ppony]

OK. We're not locals. We're only visiting for our 10th time this year, but we've been visiting since 1994. So we've got a good long snapshot of time and experience amd knowledge of how things have changed since the internet and such. (Man, typing that made me feel old). Anyway, I love to plan. Really, I do. but I'm starting to be overwhelmed w/ all this new stuff and the changes of late. I don't udnerstand much of it since I'm not able to read a lot on boards or anywre being a business owner, my "free time" is nil. And the search function on the VBulletin boards has never been good to me. Isn't technology, in theory, suppose to make things less stressful? With each successifve trip, we want less and less locked in stone and less and less commando anything and more and more freedom and enjoyment. Of course, some of that comes from having an autistic child that is almost completely non-verbal and w/ the death of the GAC, we'll just be in even worse of a pickle now because planning and being able to stick w/ said plan is not exactly something you should count on w/ some of these kids. Not mine anyway. More flexibility than ever is needed.


Anyway, it seems like we're becoming our parents! But hey, I can work a DVD player anyway! HA HA HA! I'm only 43. When did I get so old?!

 

[sonofanarchy]

Between the loss of the GAC and FP+, I feel your pain. We have an epileptic son whose medication makes him extremely irritable. Unfortunately, we can't get our money back for our summer trip since we rented DVC points. If we could, we would.

It's very sad. I understand Disney needed to do something because of the abuse of the GAC, but they should have thought of a better solution than the DAS, as now, people who need it, will pretty much be screwed because of it and how FP+ is affecting the FP lines.

 

[ppony]

Between the loss of the GAC and FP+, I feel your pain. We have an epileptic son whose medication makes him extremely irritable. Unfortunately, we can't get our money back for our summer trip since we rented DVC points. If we could, we would.

It's very sad. I understand Disney needed to do something because of the abuse of the GAC, but they should have thought of a better solution than the DAS, as now, people who need it, will pretty much be screwed because of it and how FP+ is affecting the FP lines.

Man, you just know when someone else walks in shoes like yours. THANKS for the commisserating. I'm so worried too, but we'll give it a shot. My VERY best luck to you on your summer trip. Even if you end up aving to spend more time in your resort like I do, at least you'll be in a villa! You can't beat that w/a stick. DVC owners here and we got it because Disney was so accomodating , then, for our fmaily and it's needs. I'm worried about it's value to us now that it might make costly trips like this just not worth it. Let's try to be hopeful! Oue kids are constantly changing and they often do surprise us.

PS> Viva la Jax Teller!

 

[bobbie68]

Between the loss of the GAC and FP+, I feel your pain. We have an epileptic son whose medication makes him extremely irritable. Unfortunately, we can't get our money back for our summer trip since we rented DVC points. If we could, we would.

It's very sad. I understand Disney needed to do something because of the abuse of the GAC, but they should have thought of a better solution than the DAS, as now, people who need it, will pretty much be screwed because of it and how FP+ is affecting the FP lines.

I understand what you are feeling. Like you we have the vacation set and can not change it at this time. I have been very stressed about this planning. We have a special needs DD and relied on the GAC and the fp to help get through our day. If we are able to qualify for the DAS that still leaves the fp+ and lines a nightmare to navigate. We need to change things quite often at the last minute and I think with summer crowds it will be a lot harder.

Anyway we will make the best of it. I agree I picked our two favorite moderate resorts and are planning to spend a couple of days just there. Also, because the water parks are not affected with fp+ we have gotten a good system down there and will spend a little more time at them.

I wish everybody luck with their future trips and hope it works out for the best.

 

[wrighter]

Yup.

I don't want to plan my meals and rides and parks in advance. I want to "roll with it." The new system makes it pretty difficult to do so - especially if you travel at high volume times.

Unfortunately this is the year we'd planned multiple trips in order to get the most bang for our buck out of an AP. Once it expires we will be taking a break from WDW. Very sad for us.

 

[pampam]

OP, yes, these WDW vacations are much more stressfull to plan. I, too, have a disabled DD. We were there in January, and managed ok with the GAC and the new FPs, but I must say, WDW is no longer my happy place. However, DD still loves it and makes wonderful progress when she is there, so we will likely continue to go. At this point in my life I need less stress, not more, and stressing over FPs has taken the shine off my vacation. We spent a lot less time in the parks, and I think if we go back in a year or so, we will likely give Universal Studios a try too. We may even stay off site. Mind you, I might feel differently in 6 months, but at this point I'm saying we did not have the vacation we usually do, and with the changes WDW is making, I may need to make some vacation changes as well.

 

[rstamm]

It is becoming stressful and too much work.
Planning 6 months ahead for dinning was crazy enough now I need to know what time I want to do attractions everyday is pretty insane.
Before I could change parks and only worry about dinning but now I would lose my fast passes and probably not be able to book new ones for the headliners.

If I book Universal and stay on property I get front of the line and am stress free, they are looking like a better option especially since they keep building awesome attractions at lightning speed.

I really love Disney but they are slowly losing me.

 

[surferdave]

Yes. That's been my primary heartache with this system all along (other than it not working), or at least since my trip in October.

WDW is no longer my happy place. However, DD still loves it and makes wonderful progress when she is there, so we will likely continue to go.

I can relate to that. Being the one saddled with the planning I came home more stressed than when I went.

 

[kjs1976]

Hello from a fellow Minnesotan! My DH is from CG and his fam is still there!

Yea, I do feel your pain with an autistic child's but there have always been changes to WDW and people have adapted and sites like this pop up so we can share all our tricks, old and new. I'm guessing there has to be a thread somewhere on this board dedicated to situations like yours.

 

[catra121]

Personally, and I mean no offense by this at all so please don't take it that way, I think that planning a Disney vacation is as stressful as YOU make it. I am a planner...I feel that having a plan makes me less stressed when I am IN the parks...and I have a lot of fun doing the planning.

But here's how I operate. I pick my dates and my resort. I look at the crowd calendars and pick my parks based on when the night shows are there and the crowd levels. Then I make my dining reservations. Then...60 days in advance I make my FP+ reservations. And once I make all of these reservations...that's it...I'm done. I don't second guess myself. I don't worry about whether I am "maximizing" anything. I don't change my plans constantly before the trip.

Then I arrive at WDW for my trip and just go. Plans never go 100% smooth in the sense that I don't always follow them exactly. I am handicapped...I have RSD and need to use a walker. Sometimes...I'm just not up to certain things. When I went in September I decided not to do any rides on my AK day because I was in too much pain...so I didn't use any of my FP+ reservations...no big deal. The following day I was better but decided to skip Mission Space because I felt it would set off the pain again...no big deal. I also skipped an ADR at a restaurant I was really looking forward to because I just was in too much pain and needed to go back to the resort early to rest. Again...no big deal. Especially because I know that I will go again...and again...and again.

I highly recommend that you look into the DAS program and what it WILL allow you to do (don't focus on what it won't let you do that you could before). From what I have read, it will give you great flexibility if you use it correctly, more so than FP+. Read the experiences from people who have used it successfully.

Go in with a plan and then just relax. Nothing is ever going to be perfect...make the decisions that are best for you and your family and then just enjoy the excitement of looking forward to your WDW vacation. Be at peace with the knowledge that if everything doesn't go exactly to plan...you will still have a great vacation because you will be with your family and you will be in Disney World.

I see so many people worried about "maximizing" their vacation dollar, getting on the most rides, getting the most value from the dining plan, etc. and it truly baffles me. I don't care that some people think it's a waste to use a snack credit to buy a soda...it's what I want and it would be a waste to get something I don't want. And I don't care if people think it's a waste to use a FP+ for Pooh...if it's what I want to ride and I enjoy it then that's all that matters. I don't care if people think it's a waste to go to the parks and only ride a handful of rides...if I'm having a great time then that's all that matters.

To each their own...but it's not necessary to stress out when planning a Disney World vacation. If you're getting stressed...take a step back from it and try to figure out why. Is it because there are a ton of new things and you're not sure how they will work out? Okay...now think about worst case scenario (whatever that is for you)...what is it? Now remind yourself that even with the worst case scenario...you are in Disney World with your family and it will all be okay. Have a plan in place for this worst case scenario, how you will deal with it IF it happens, but don't think about it beyond that. Don't go in expecting the worst to happen...go in with all the excitement that a trip to Disney World should bring and it will be amazing.

 

[surferdave]

.

Thanks.. But the question was does anyone else feel like WDW vacations are getting more stressful to plan, not less; regardless of coping mechanisms or damage control techniques in place it's a fair question.

And we don't have to figure out why, we know.

 

[TaylorsDad]

I think PamPam summed things up nicely. I still love WDW but it is no longer my happy place. I also have a special needs child and a stressful occupation and sometimes just having a moment at home to think about and plan an upcoming trip to WDW offered a break from reality and let me begin my visit to that Happy Place without ever leaving my home. Now I feel like I am being forced to plan every detail way too far in advance and worry about any deviations that may possibly occur no matter how unlikely. Now, that Happy place seems to be gone. I am sure WDW vacations will always be fun but just more like a vacation and no longer the "Happiest Place on Earth"

 

[ppony]

No offense taken and THANK YOU for couching it like that for me. that's actually like advoce I've given others here on DIS before actually. I actually describe myself as a Cheerio floating in the milk. I just go w/ the flow, usually. It can be as much or little stress as you want. Or was anyway. With the addition of FP+ and even the changes in the previous FP system, it's gotten more compicated, for me. It's reached my personal limits. I suppose I should add that that I'm ADD (self-diagnosed currently) and actually have serious organization issues. Organizing is really difficult for me and the more possibilities you add into the mix, the worse it is. I actually just had some neuro-testing done a few weeks ago to determine if there is more to the picture than ADD. Sadly, my DH wants nothing to do w/ the planning so it's on me.

I wish it were as easy as being able to plan and stick with it though. Right now, I don't know how FP+ works and what has changed for us w/ the elimination of the GAC and how we'll handle things with our youngest and how HE will handle it is most important. He's been there twice now with certain expectations of what he does. He mostly likely won't understand why he can't do something the way he did it before. Things just have certain ways they are done and he doesn't deal w/ change or adjustment well, at all. It's not me that's not flexible. I know what we needed and the GAC allowed for that, the current system is anything but helpful for my kiddo from reports from other moms I know outside of here. Disney claims they asked experts from organizations for various disabilities, but in reality, they only set up what they wanted to do and sent copies of that to these orgs. they didn't actually get a say in the matter. The Pres/CEO (whatever he's called) of Autism Speaks came under a great deal of heat for supposedly having been a consult for the new program, so he went on the record in a video to explain what involvement Autism Speaks actually had, or more importantly, didn't have. Honestly, unless you deal with these situations daily, it's really difficult to actually understand. I actually spend a great deal of time w/ just me and my son at the resort in our room because that's what he needs. So believe me, I'm good at dealing w things as they come.

My DH and I did take a 5 day trip to WDW for just us 2 a few years back and we did exactly as you described sans the obvious stuff that wasn't in place yet. We just made the plans we wanted to and rolled with it. It was very freeing and comfortable. It's the addition of the FP+ and new version of the GAC that is stressing me out eyond belief. The other posters that have kids like mine know what I'm talking about. It makes your stomach churn. As other said, I want my happy place back!

PS: HI KJS1976! Go outside in shorts tomorrow! It's going to be 40!

Personally, and I mean no offense by this at all so please don't take it that way, I think that planning a Disney vacation is as stressful as YOU make it. I am a planner...I feel that having a plan makes me less stressed when I am IN the parks...and I have a lot of fun doing the planning.

But here's how I operate. I pick my dates and my resort. I look at the crowd calendars and pick my parks based on when the night shows are there and the crowd levels. Then I make my dining reservations. Then...60 days in advance I make my FP+ reservations. And once I make all of these reservations...that's it...I'm done. I don't second guess myself. I don't worry about whether I am "maximizing" anything. I don't change my plans constantly before the trip.

Then I arrive at WDW for my trip and just go. Plans never go 100% smooth in the sense that I don't always follow them exactly. I am handicapped...I have RSD and need to use a walker. Sometimes...I'm just not up to certain things. When I went in September I decided not to do any rides on my AK day because I was in too much pain...so I didn't use any of my FP+ reservations...no big deal. The following day I was better but decided to skip Mission Space because I felt it would set off the pain again...no big deal. I also skipped an ADR at a restaurant I was really looking forward to because I just was in too much pain and needed to go back to the resort early to rest. Again...no big deal. Especially because I know that I will go again...and again...and again.

I highly recommend that you look into the DAS program and what it WILL allow you to do (don't focus on what it won't let you do that you could before). From what I have read, it will give you great flexibility if you use it correctly, more so than FP+. Read the experiences from people who have used it successfully.

Go in with a plan and then just relax. Nothing is ever going to be perfect...make the decisions that are best for you and your family and then just enjoy the excitement of looking forward to your WDW vacation. Be at peace with the knowledge that if everything doesn't go exactly to plan...you will still have a great vacation because you will be with your family and you will be in Disney World.

I see so many people worried about "maximizing" their vacation dollar, getting on the most rides, getting the most value from the dining plan, etc. and it truly baffles me. I don't care that some people think it's a waste to use a snack credit to buy a soda...it's what I want and it would be a waste to get something I don't want. And I don't care if people think it's a waste to use a FP+ for Pooh...if it's what I want to ride and I enjoy it then that's all that matters. I don't care if people think it's a waste to go to the parks and only ride a handful of rides...if I'm having a great time then that's all that matters.

To each their own...but it's not necessary to stress out when planning a Disney World vacation. If you're getting stressed...take a step back from it and try to figure out why. Is it because there are a ton of new things and you're not sure how they will work out? Okay...now think about worst case scenario (whatever that is for you)...what is it? Now remind yourself that even with the worst case scenario...you are in Disney World with your family and it will all be okay. Have a plan in place for this worst case scenario, how you will deal with it IF it happens, but don't think about it beyond that. Don't go in expecting the worst to happen...go in with all the excitement that a trip to Disney World should bring and it will be amazing.

 

[crostorfer]

I don't think it's been any more stressful to plan, but I do think the planning process has made me less happy, if that makes sense.

I'm walking in on the 17th knowing that:

I only get 3 FP's, all at a certain time.

It's quite possible my standby waits will be longer.

And that the MK is essentially a torn up mess of construction, at least during daylight hours.

None of these things make me happy. It is what it is though.

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

I really hope that someone with the power to change things at Disney looks at these boards. It makes me sad to see so many people losing their love for Disney. I couldn't imagine Disney World not ever being my happy place, regardless of how stressful the planning of a vacation is, but I do hope they fix the issues that everyone seems to be having.

 

[2Tiggies]

The irony is that it seems to be the planners who are struggling with this the most. I am a planner BUT I pick what I want to plan; what's important to me. Rides are a given for us, we know they are important to us but they have always been there and we could work them into a loosely planned daily schedule. I used to like planning other aspects of our tip; making autograph books, planning and re-planning where we would eat ... we have done none of that this year because I've spent so much time either irritated and not in the mood for it or (the reason for not being in the mood to plan): spent so many hours on the phone trying to sort out issues with my MDE account.

I love planning. But I feel like I am being dictated to as to what I can plan, when I can do it and how I can do it.


This is my personal feeling about this and I'm not making a blanket statement suggesting it reflects how everyone else feels but it certainly is for me.

 

[hsmamato2]

to the OP....YES. I feel the same way.... I don't have disabled family members,just people who like to relax....and I DON'T like the changes.

 

[MariaJ]

"Anyone else feel like WDW vacations are getting more stressful to plan, not less?"

Totally. We are offsite, so it's even worse. Can't plan diddly, except ADR's.

I find myself dreading MK, going this Friday. I have never dreaded going to WDW before. AK, not so worried about.

We decided to try Universal because DD is totally into Harry Potter. Staying onsite. I am totally looking forward to that!

Never thought this is how I'd be feeling going in. We have LOVED our past trips. So, to answer your question, yes. While planning has been much more stressful, mainly because I CAN'T really plan as much as I use to, and there is much more to PLAN once in the parks (kiosks), what's really stressing me out is that I'm just NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING.

Good luck with your trip. We had one day in EP after a Fantasy cruise last year, DH using a cane, recovering from massive leg surgery from a car accident, and we could feel the attitude change coming from CM's about folks with disabilities. Shortly after our visit they changed the rules. We got very little care and a lot of sneers even though we had the card. Took the shine off.

 

[bcrook]

OK. We're not locals. We're only visiting for our 10th time this year, but we've been visiting since 1994. So we've got a good long snapshot of time and experience amd knowledge of how things have changed since the internet and such. (Man, typing that made me feel old). Anyway, I love to plan. Really, I do. but I'm starting to be overwhelmed w/ all this new stuff and the changes of late. I don't udnerstand much of it since I'm not able to read a lot on boards or anywre being a business owner, my "free time" is nil. And the search function on the VBulletin boards has never been good to me. Isn't technology, in theory, suppose to make things less stressful? With each successifve trip, we want less and less locked in stone and less and less commando anything and more and more freedom and enjoyment. Of course, some of that comes from having an autistic child that is almost completely non-verbal and w/ the death of the GAC, we'll just be in even worse of a pickle now because planning and being able to stick w/ said plan is not exactly something you should count on w/ some of these kids. Not mine anyway. More flexibility than ever is needed.


Anyway, it seems like we're becoming our parents! But hey, I can work a DVD player anyway! HA HA HA! I'm only 43. When did I get so old?!

Although, I don't have to deal with little children anymore... I agree with your statements.

Yes. That's been my primary heartache with this system all along (other than it not working), or at least since my trip in October.



I can relate to that. Being the one saddled with the planning I came home more stressed than when I went.

 

[DakotaRose]

Most of our friends are working parents with kids involved in activities, so they don't have time to read a 400 page guide book or spend 100 hours reading/researching on the internet. Few of them as WDW first timers realized that planning a WDW trip is orders of magnitude different from planning a week at a cabin in Detroit Lakes, MN. For most of them, "planning" a trip means picking a date and calling a travel agent. Those that have done some research before going to WDW found it overwhelming. These people spend the vast majority of their travel dollars within a day's drive of home, and take only a couple of vacations with plane tickets before the kids graduate from high school. And yes, most of them are once-in-a-lifetime Disney travelers. They are evenly split between "Disney was really fun" and "you couldn't pay me enough to go back to that h*llhole!"